What is Green Building?

Construction of a new home involves many things, some of which aren’t the most environmentally conscious. For example, most homes aren’t built with efficiency, causing a drain on the energy production in the region.

There are Boise Home Builders that have already adopted a green mindset and standards for building. In essence, building a home that is “green” actually saves you money as well as helps the environment.

Let’s dive into the specifics of Green Building.

Each home is rated in an index called the Home Energy Rating System that measures a home’s efficiency and performance. The goal is to construct what’s known as a “zero energy home”, or one that produces just as much energy as it uses. Get in contact with a certified Energy Rater to find out how your home stacks up.

Other things that play a role are appliances, windows, lights, and the actual construction materials. You can see how important it is to get it right the first time instead of trying to improve a home a few years after it is built.

The windows in particular have to be what’s known as “Low-E”, meaning that it saves energy with special coatings. These coatings filter out the different waves within the light spectrum in order to reduce the heat created by ultraviolet and infrared waves. Sounds a bit like physics class, but truly the only thing you truly need to know is that it will help the energy performance of your home by around 10%.

One actionable thing you can do TODAY is to take inventory of what types of light bulbs you are using. The cheap ones just don’t cut it anymore. It may feel good to save a few coins in the store right now, but they burn out quickly and require replacement anyway. It’s time to make the smart choice for your community and our planet. Every little bit helps. Start by selecting either LED light bulbs or Compact Fluorescent bulbs (the “twisty” ones). They can last 10x longer than regular incandescent bulbs, which save as much as $200 dollars per year!

While this is a relatively new way to “go green”, it is becoming more common (and affordable) to create a home that is not only a great place to live, but an energy asset for the future.